Committee reviews Youth Safety and Permanency budget as state seeks more prevention specialists and foster families

BOISE — The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Thursday heard a detailed budget presentation and follow-up Q&A on the Division of Child Welfare — now retitled Youth Safety and Permanency — including requests for new staff aimed at preventing out-of-home placements and recruiting foster families.

Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee the division has 434.8 authorized full‑time positions and, as of Feb. 10, 45.8 vacancies; the agency reported roughly 25 of those vacancies are in the interview process and nine are posted. Williamson said the division expended $117,800,000 in fiscal 2024 and that foster and assistance payments made up about 60% of that spending.

The department is seeking a package of positions and funding to expand prevention services and clinical supports. The largest personnel request described by Williamson was for a prevention specialist team of 36 family‑service worker prevention specialists to strengthen families and keep children safely at home; the packet available to the committee lists the request and the page references in…